Prince Hillard Eta, led-National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress(APC) said that President Muhammadu Buhari was unaware of an invitation from the National Executive Council (NEC) scheduled for Thursday, June 24, asking party members to ignore the meeting.
The notification came hours after President Muhammadu Buhari openly declared support for Victor Giadom as acting National Chairman of the APC.
In a statement signed on Wednesday, June 24, by the Acting National Secretariat of the APC, Architect Waziri Bulama, the party said that the organizer of the meeting was removed from office by the head of state of the Rivers Party.
Bulama said that Giadom cannot call a meeting on this day because according to the party’s Constitution, only the national Secretary can do so in accordance with article 14.3 of the APC Constitution.
Part of the statement read: “our esteemed members are advised to ignore this invitation, since the author and sole signatory of the said invitation is not a member of our party’s NWC, but rather the Acting National Chairman, as alleged.
“The party stated that even the legitimate Chairman is only authorized to announce the date of NEC meetings every quarter and nothing more.
“Our leader, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is known for insisting on respect for our Constitution and the rule of law.
“Therefore, it cannot be true that Mr. President supports the convening of such an illegal NEC by a non-member of the NWC of the APC.
We urge everyone to ignore this notice, as neither the NWC nor the NEC called for such a meeting,” the statement concludes.
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It is believed that the NWC, currently led by Eta, still enjoys majority support in the ruling APC. About 15 members of the Committee have since pitched their tent with Eta, which holds a Forte for Senator Abiola Ajimobi.
Political observers say Giadom is backed by internal forces trying to gain control of the APC ahead of the 2023 General election.
Giadom called a virtual meeting of the NEC in a statement released on Tuesday, June 23.
He also added that he was calling the meeting with the consent of President Muhammadu Buhari.
